AGREEMENTBETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIAAND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAON EXEMPTION FROM VISA REQUIREMENT

FOR HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL / SERVICE PASSPORTS

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THEREPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

Hereinafter referred to singularly as the "Contracting Party" and collectively as the"Contracting Parties"

ARTICLE 1

CONSIDERING the interest of both countries to strengthen their friendly relations, and

DESIRING to facilitate the entry of the citizens of the Republic of India and thecitizens of the Republic of Bulgaria

Who are holders of diplomatic or official/service passports into their respectivecountries,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

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1. A citizen of either Contracting Party, who is in possession of a valid diplomatic orofficial/service passport shall be permitted to enter into, exit from and transit through theterritory of the other Contracting Party through their respective international points of entry /exit without a visa.

2. A citizen of either Contracting Party, holding the said passport shall be allowed tostay in the territory of the other Contracting Party for the maximum period of ninety (90) dayswithin 6 months without a visa.

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ARTICLE 2

1. A citizen of either Contracting Party, who is assigned as a memher of the Diplomaticmission or Consulate, or is a representative of his / her country in an International Organizationlocated in the territory of the other Contracting Party and is in possession of a valid diplomaticor official/service passport, shall not be required to obtain a visa to enter the territory of theother Contracting Party, and shall be granted, on request from the Diplomatic Mission orConsulate, or from the International Organization concerned within ninety (90) days of thearrival of the diplomatic/official/service passport holder, a residence visa for the period of his /her official stay.

2. The facilities enumerated in paragraphs 1 of this Article shall also apply to thespouse of a member of the diplomatic Mission or Consulate or representative in InternationalOrganization, their children and their dependent parents, provided they hold a similar categoryof passport.

ARTICLE 3

;"< ---3. The persons referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall not be permitted to engage

in commercial activity during their stay in the territory of the other Contracting Party in theaforesaid quality.

1. A citizen of either Contracting Party, who is in possession of a valid diplomatic orofficial/service passport and has to attend a meeting or conference convened by aninternational organization or Government, in the territory of the other Contracting Party, shallnot be required to obtain a visa to enter and stay in the territory of the other Contracting Party.

2. The holders of diplomatic and official/service passports of either Contracting Partywho are employed by an international organization, body, agency or any other such entity,would be required to obtain visa prior to their entry into the territory of the other ContractingParty for official or private visits.

ARTICLE 4

1. Each Contracting Party reserves the right to refuse the entry into, or shorten the stayin its territory, of any citizen of the other Contracting Party, whom it may consider undesirable.

2. If a citizen of one Contracting Party loses his / her passport in the territory of theother Contracting Party, he / she shall inform the authorities concerned of the host country forappropriate action. The diplomatic Mission or Consulate concerned will issue a new passportor travel document to its citizen and inform the concerned authorities of the host Government.

ARTICLE 5

Citizens of either Contracting Party, being holders of diplomatic or official/servicepassports shall abide by the laws and regulations of the other Contracting Party while crossingits frontier and throughout the duration of their stay in its territory.

ARTICLE 6

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, each Contracting Party shall transmit to theother, through diplomatic channels, specimens of its respective passports, including a detaileddescription of such documents currently used, at least thirty (30) days before the entry intoforce of this Agreement.

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ARTICLE 7

2. Each Contracting Party shall also transmit to the other through diplomatic channels,specimen of its new or modified passports, including a detailed description of such documents,at least thirty (30) days before they are brought into force.

Each Contracting Party reserves the right for reasons of security, public order or publichealth, to suspend temporarily, either in whole or in part, the implementation of thisAgreement, which shall take effect immediately after notification has been given to the otherContracting Party through diplomatic channels.

ARTICLE 8

Either Contracting Party may request in wntmg, through diplomatic channels, arevision or amendment of the whole or part of this Agreement. Any revision or amendment,which has been agreed to by the Contracting Parties, shall form part of this Agreement. Theentry into force of the respective revision or amendment shall be governed by the terms of theentry into force of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 9~ I

Any difference or dispute arising out of the implementation of the provisions of theAgreement shall be settled amicably by consultation or negotiation between the ContractingParties without reference to any third party or an international tribunal.

ARTICLE 10~ t" .,

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1. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time and shall enter intoforce on the thirtieth (3oth) day after the date of receipt of the last written notification by whichthe Contracting Parties shall inform each other about the completion of their internal legalprocedures for its entry into force.

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, , 2. Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice tothe other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels. Such termination shall take effectninety (90) days following the date of receipt of the notice by the other Contracting Party.

f. f~ .· , IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized by their respective

Governments, have signed the present Agreement.

DONE at ~IeM' D~Ik, on this 3>",0\ day of (V\p..1I c,,", in the year twothousand V11'" R. in two (2) originals; each in Hindi, Bulgarian and English languages,all texts being equally authentic. III the event of any divergence of interpretation, the Englishtext shall prevail. I

)£1 {)(}{pI4JtwIFORTHE GOVERNME T OF THEREPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

FORTHE GOVERNMENT OF THEREPUBLIC OF INDIA

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